Automatic deodorant dispenser for toilets



United States Patent() AUTOMATIC DEODORANT DISPENSER FOR TOILETS Cecil F. Ratclite, Charlotte, N. C. Application June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,172

3 Claims. (Cl. le-225) This invention relates to sanitary toilet Vvequipment and its object is to provide means for dispensing a minute quantity of liquid toilet deodorant through the overflow pipe of toilet ilush box into the toilet bowl-after each ushing of the toilet.

An object is to provide means for dispensing such deodorant with means for regulating the supply of deodorant dispensed.

Another object is to provide means of this' character which will supply deodorant to the flush box following each ushing of the toilet.

A further object is to provide means of thischaracter which may be readily adapted to conventional flush boxes and toilets.

Another object is to provide means of thischaracter which are of relatively few parts which are simple and do not readily get out of order.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds' when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figure 1 is atop plan View of the invention showing it installed in a conventional flush box;

. Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view looking from the rightin Fig ure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5,--5 of Figure. 4.'

The numeral 10 indicates `a conventional flush box or tankwhich may be mounted' on a conventional bowl, not shown. Inlets to the box are controlled by means ,of a float 11 mounted on a iloat arm or rod I2 which through linkage 13 operates an inlet valve 14 on a valve unit 15. Numeral 16 indicates the inlet from the housesupply and 17 the outlet from'the valve unit 15 intol the flush box. This is conventional structure.

A conventional overflow pipe 18 is fixed in the bottom of the tank. A deodorant container is secured to the overilow pipe 18 within the tank. This container is a semi-cylindrical reservoir 19 which is vertically and adjustably secured on the overow pipe 18 by means .of a bracket and bolts 9. The deodorant container has a at side which is provided in an intermediate portion with a semi-circular groove. This semi-circular groove receives a portion of the circumference of overow pipe 18, as shown in Figure 1. The bracket has two oppositely extending ilange portions with an intermediate curved portion of semi-circular cross-section. When fitted in place, the intermediate curved portion ofthe bracket encompass-es the remaining portion of the circumference of overow pipe 18. Bolts 9 extend through bolt holes formed in each ilange portion of the bracket into the at side wall of the deodorant container to secure the deodorant container to the overflow pipe. By loosening the bolts 9, the deodorant container may be vertically adjusted on the overflow pipe byv sliding it upwardly or downwardly as desired, whereupon the bolts may then .be tightened to again secure the deodorant container in Ptented sept. 3o, 1958 ICC place on the overow pipe. The bottom 20 of the de# odorant reservoir vis provided with an outlet port 21. An end portion 22 is suitably secured to the bottom portion 20and this portion is provided with a passage 23 in which are provided valve chambers 24 and 25. Within the chambers 24 and 25 there are inlet and outlet valves 26 and 27, respectively, which may be spring seated as shown in Figure 4. The springs in the valve chambers 24 and 25 may be omitted, if desired, as the inlet and outlet valve chambers 24 and 25 and valves 26 and 27 therein are so arranged as to cause the valves to open and close as desired under pressure of the deodorant. An outlet pipe 28 extends from the passage 23 and is bent over to discharge deodorant into the overtlovv pipe 18.

A pump rchamber 29 is provided partly in the bottom 20 of the deodorant chamber and partly in the end portion 22. A pump piston 30 is provided within the pump chamber and a spring 31 is positioned at the head of the piston to urge the piston to retracted position. Attached to the lower end of the piston is a piston rod 32. As is apparent, reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder will draw deodorant through `the valve 26 and discharge it through the valve 27 into the outlet pipe 28. The inlet valve 26 and its chamber 24 are so arranged as to prevent ow of the deodorant back. into the reservoir 19 on the 4pumping stroke, and the outlet valve 27 and its chamber 25 are soarranged as to prevent flow of the deodorant back into the pump chamber 29 from the outlet pipe 28 on the suction stroke. Thus, once filled, the lower portion of pipe 28 contains a constant charge of deodorant.

The deodorant reservoir may be adjusted vertically on the overow pipe by loosening the bolts 9 to regulate the effective stroke of the piston so that a predetermined amount of deodorant may be discharged into the overflow pipe at each reciprocation of the piston. Means for operating the pump pistony comprise a'lever 33 which is pivotally attached at 3'4 to anv ear or bracket on the member' 22. The lever 33 depends from its pivotal connection 34 and then extends horizontally and then is bent upwardly' into an upstanding arm 35 and then bent laterally again intoy an arm 36 which extends above the float arm 12.

From the foregoing description, it may be seen that the operation is as' follows:

When the toilet is flushed the float 11 will descend and the spring 31 vwill move the piston 30 to the position shown' in Figure 4, drawing deodorant into the pump chamber 29, and when the ush tank is filled the float will move up lifting the piston to discharge deodorant through the line 28 into the ilush box. The float 11, as is apparent, will control inlet water through valve 14 and pipe 16 into the ilush box. As will be apparent, the dev odorant supplying pump will not deliver deodorant into the pipe 18 until after the ushing of the toilet. Consequently, the deodorant will be deposited in the toilet bowl where it will act as a deodorantv and if desired perhaps as a sterilizing agent in the event that the deodorant contains germicidal material as well as a deodorizing material.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, there is provided a means for supplying deodorizing material to a toilet which is simple'in operation, in structure and in installation.

In the drawings and specication there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

` 3 :mi g I claim:

1. In a ush tank having an inlet valve for supplying water to the tank, an overflow pipe in the tank adapted to discharge water into a toilet bowl, a float in the tank for controlling the inlet valve, arodlconnectingthe lioatftd and for operating the'inlet valve, an improvedrdeodorizingdevice comprising; a deodorant container attached to the overflow pipe, said deodorant, container havingfia pump'chamber in its bottom portion, an inletA passageway connecting the pumpchamberwith the interior of the deodorant container, an outlet passageway from the pump chamber to the overflow pipe, a pistony in said pump chamber,V movement of the Vpiston in one direction serving to draw deodorant from the deodorant,container into the pump chamber through said inletpassageway and movement of the piston in the opposite direction forcing deodorant from the4 pump chamber through said outlet passageway and into the overtlow pipe, a pistonrod on said piston extending below said deodorant container, a lever pivotally attached to lthebottorn of the deodorant container and in engagement with said piston rod, means on said lever engaging rod which operates theinlet.` valve to the flush tank, and means for adjusting the deodorant container vertically on said overow pipe, whereby the lever by virtue of its engagement with said ,pistonrod also adjusts the piston verticallywithin the pumpchamber to change its effective stroke and consequently regulate the quantity of deodorant delivered to the overow pipe. t

2. Ina flush tank having an inlet for supplying water to the tank, a oat member connectedV by a float rod to valve means for controlling said supply inlet, vand an overflow pipe for discharging water into a toilet bowl, an improved deodorizing dispenser means comprising; a deodorant reservoir secured to said overow pipe, said reservoir having apump chamber in its lower portion, said pump chamber communicating with said reservoir through an inlet passageway, a Iirst check valve 'positioned in said inlet passageway, said pump chamber communicating with said overow pipe through an outlet passageway, a second check valve positioned in said out-r let passageway, a piston in said pump chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein, a spring normally urging` the piston in one direction, linkage means connected to said piston and said float rod to move the piston in the opposite direction to compress the spring when the 'float rises in the tank, said first check valve being opened .upon movement of the piston in one direction to admit deodorant from said reservoir into said pump chamber, and said second check valve being opened to pass the deodorant from said pump chamber to the overliow pipe when the piston moves in the opposite direction within the chamber, and means for adjusting the deodorant restive stroke of the piston within the chamber, whereby the quantityof deodorant delivered into the overflow pipe may be regulated as desired.

3. In a flush tank having an inlet for supplying water to the tank, a oat member connected by a float rod to valve means for controlling said supply inlet, and an overflow pipe for discharging water into a toilet bowl, an improved deodorizing dispenser meanscomprising; a deodorant reservoir, said deodorant reservoir being provided with a semi-circular groove on one side, a portion of the circumference of said overow pipe fitting within said semi-circular groove, abracket having two'oppositely extending .ange portions and an intermediate curved portion of semi-circular shape, the remaining portion of the circumference of said overiiow pipe being encompassed by said intermediate curved vportion of the bracket, means to securegeachange of the bracket to said oneside of the deodorant reservoir to` thereby secure the deodorant reservoir totsaid overow pipe, said reservoir having a pump chamber in its lower portion, said pump chamber communicating with said` reservoir through an inlet passagewaya rst check valve positionedv in said inlet passageway, said pump lchamber communicating with said overflow pipe through an outlet passageway, a second check valve positioned in said outlet passageway, a pistontin said pump chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein, a spring normally` urging thevpiston in `one direction, linkage means connected to said piston and said iloat rod to move the pistonin the opposite direction to compress the spring when the oat rises in the tank, saidiirst check valve ybeing opened uponrnovement of the .piston in one direction to ,admit deodorant from said reservoir into said pump chamber, and said second check valve being `opened to pass the deodorant from said pump chamber to the .overflow pipe when the piston moves in the opposite direction within the chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patentj'f'gff Y 

